The queen goes fur-free

Although it’s clearly the more ethical option in that it doesn’t require animals to be killed in order for it to be made, sustainability wise it’s rather a big no-no. Not to mention the sometimes appalling and exploitative human conditions in which it can be produced, ‘largely in developing countries where environmental controls are lax, sweatshop conditions common and child labour rife,’ says the International Fur Trade Federation.

Typically manufactured from synthetic polymeric fibres like acrylic, modacrylic, and polyester (all of which are types of plastic that don’t usually biodegrade), if improperly discarded, faux fur is extremely harmful to the world’s wildlife. Especially considering the growing evidence that plastic may play a role in the rising extinction rates of various species (Forbes).

Generally, the opinion of the pro-fur community is that real fur is superior to its faux counterparts because it’s completely natural and will eventually biodegrade. ‘Aside from the chemicals currently involved in the dressing and dyeing processes, real fur really is a sustainable product,’ says Mark Oaten, CEO of the International Fur Federation.

Additionally, faux fur sheds and ‘is going to put more small, tiny fibres into the ocean,’ argues Jeffrey Silberman from the Fashion Institute of Technology in NY. As we know, plastic has been found inside the bodies of more than 60% of seabirds and 100% of sea turtles who mistakenly think it’s food, and if this still doesn’t convince you that faux fur is harming the environment, just imagine the damage when it piles up on landfills around the globe.

The fashion industry is renowned for contributing to climate change and if we genuinely want to save the planet, we need to stop focusing so much energy on uncovering what’s wrong with fur – faux or not – and start diverting our attention to finding solutions for the future of our earth.

Clearly, the animal-free alternative is not faring much better in the controversy stakes so, if fur is killing animals and faux fur is killing the planet, what on earth should we be doing to become the ultimate mindful shopper? Nothing we purchase can ever be 100% sustainable, but we can try our best to seek out brands with a reputation for being environmentally friendly and cruelty-free, as well as turning to technology for innovation. Take clothing companies Piñatex and Modern Meadow for example, both of which are using technology and natural materials to create convincing faux leathers. Or Parley for the Oceans, transforming ocean plastic into knit running shoes.

It’s unlikely that either side of the fur argument will drastically change its views any time soon, but at the end of the day both are hurting the planet and that’s what’s relevant. In my opinion, the Queen’s decision to go fur-free is just the beginning, and it’s only a matter of time before we realise the importance of buying better, buying less, and of course, making sure that we’re always doing what we can to individually reduce our carbon footprint.